patterson reports to o's ST early

[Soul]

I just find myself wondering if it was either Corey Patterson's unwillingness/inability to adjust or Dusty Baker refusal to take him out of the lineup that cost the Cubs the 2005 season.

 

I think it was a combination of the two, I really do.

It was a lot more than that.

 

The reason we failed in 2005? Simple, really. We stunk.

[Drew Doughty]

I just find myself wondering if it was either Corey Patterson's unwillingness/inability to adjust or Dusty Baker refusal to take him out of the lineup that cost the Cubs the 2005 season.

 

I think it was a combination of the two, I really do.

 

That had very little to do with it. By the time Corey was called back up, there was no reason not to play him, see if he could figure something out. He didn't, obviously, but that didn't matter. It might have something to do with Prior and Wood missing significant time, Neifi getting 500 PAs (most of which came out of the 1 or 2 spot), Dusty Baker being the manager of the team, the bullpen struggling most of the year, and having a weak OF in general.

[biittner77]

Looking at the O's lineup:

 

2nd Roberts

CF Patterson

SS Tejada

DH/ C Lopez

3rd Mora

1st/ LF Millar

RF Gibbons

C Hernandez

LF/ 1st Conine (or Matos or Newhan or ....)

 

Patterson hurts them less batting 2nd because of the DH. I think it's more likely that Mora bats 2nd and Patterson 9th which is probably the ideal use of his speed and power.

[Gunned]

New team=report to camp early. If Sosa signed with a team he wulda had to report in January. Just sitting in AZ all by himself running to the RF bleachers waving to empty bleachers.

 

Except Corey was early every year.

 

Maybe he'd be better off coming late to camp then.

[biittner77]

New team=report to camp early. If Sosa signed with a team he wulda had to report in January. Just sitting in AZ all by himself running to the RF bleachers waving to empty bleachers.

 

Except Corey was early every year.

 

Maybe he'd be better off coming late to camp then.

 

While he was with the Cubs every day that he came to camp early was another day of 6 different people trying 6 different approaches to turn him into Brett Butler.

 

Hopefully the O's will have enough sense to have him work with one and only one hitting coach that works with his skills and not against them.

[Balsa]

When asked about the approach he plans to take with the Orioles, Patterson was simple and forthright: "I pretty much just stick to my strengths -- know myself and go from there...basically, what it comes down to is you wait for a pitch in your zone. If you get it, try to take advantage of it. If you swing at a bad pitch, you swing at a bad pitch...you can't worry about it, because if you do that, you're not focusing on the next pitch. And that's what it comes down to."

 

Later Patterson was asked about his low walk totals and this is how he responded: "I don't even pay attention to that stuff. I just play the game, and that's all you can do," he said. "The numbers will be there at the end. Some of the people that walk may get on base, but they can't steal and end up clogging the bases. Sure, you want to get on base, but there are a lot of different ways to look at it. The main thing is knowing yourself and knowing your strengths."

 

:roll:

 

Source

[Tim]

When asked about the approach he plans to take with the Orioles, Patterson was simple and forthright: "I pretty much just stick to my strengths -- know myself and go from there...basically, what it comes down to is you wait for a pitch in your zone. If you get it, try to take advantage of it. If you swing at a bad pitch, you swing at a bad pitch...you can't worry about it, because if you do that, you're not focusing on the next pitch. And that's what it comes down to."

 

Later Patterson was asked about his low walk totals and this is how he responded: "I don't even pay attention to that stuff. I just play the game, and that's all you can do," he said. "The numbers will be there at the end. Some of the people that walk may get on base, but they can't steal and end up clogging the bases. Sure, you want to get on base, but there are a lot of different ways to look at it. The main thing is knowing yourself and knowing your strengths."

 

:roll:

 

Source

And people accuse Corey of not listening to his coaches. :lol:

[abuck1220]

wow, it seems like most people who were anti-corey were pro-dusty. something's got to give now that they've both used the base-clogging line.

[Soul]

I mean that quote pretty much settles it, right?

 

Corey refused to be coached, refused to listen. "I don't even pay attention to that stuff." What more proof does one need? :?:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I mean that quote pretty much settles it, right?

 

Corey refused to be coached, refused to listen. "I don't even pay attention to that stuff." What more proof does one need? :?:

 

I read that as, "I don't pay attention to stats."

[Soul]

I mean that quote pretty much settles it, right?

 

Corey refused to be coached, refused to listen. "I don't even pay attention to that stuff." What more proof does one need? :?:

 

I read that as, "I don't pay attention to stats."

 

Oh, hehe. I guess I'm not giving Corey much benefit of the doubt these days :oops:

 

Still though. They say they were working with him to improve plate discipline, right? For CPatt to now say he doesn't even pay attention to walks kind of implies......well you know.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I mean that quote pretty much settles it, right?

 

Corey refused to be coached, refused to listen. "I don't even pay attention to that stuff." What more proof does one need? :?:

 

I read that as, "I don't pay attention to stats."

 

That's what I thought too. He also repeated the Dusty-speak we've heard almost verbatim.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

:shock:

 

CPat wasn't clogging the bases much last year, that's for sure. Good luck in Baltimore, Corey.

[biittner77]

When asked about the approach he plans to take with the Orioles, Patterson was simple and forthright: "I pretty much just stick to my strengths -- know myself and go from there...basically, what it comes down to is you wait for a pitch in your zone. If you get it, try to take advantage of it. If you swing at a bad pitch, you swing at a bad pitch...you can't worry about it, because if you do that, you're not focusing on the next pitch. And that's what it comes down to."

 

Later Patterson was asked about his low walk totals and this is how he responded: "I don't even pay attention to that stuff. I just play the game, and that's all you can do," he said. "The numbers will be there at the end. Some of the people that walk may get on base, but they can't steal and end up clogging the bases. Sure, you want to get on base, but there are a lot of different ways to look at it. The main thing is knowing yourself and knowing your strengths."

 

:roll:

 

Source

 

It's a shame that Baker or now Patterson never explained what they meant by "clogging the bases". Alou, who ran like he had a piano on his back, would be better off trying to hit the ball hard than trying to draw a walk. In context the phrase isn't nearly as idiotic.

 

It's still foolish to ignore plate discipline, especially in Patterson's case.

[goonys evil twin]

Alou, who ran like he had a piano on his back, would be better off trying to hit the ball hard than trying to draw a walk.

 

Everybody is better of trying to hit the ball hard. You don't try to draw a walk (except in a few special circumstances). The problem with the Cubs, and Dusty's mantra, is you have to be willing to accept a walk. When you approach your at bat as if a walk is the wimp's way on base, you are only hurting yourself (and your team). The "clog" comment isn't important by itself. The reason it stuck is because it so perfectly summed up how Dusty went out of his way to downplay the value of walks.

[Vinestal]

I wish I could get Hendry's opinion on Baker's outlook on walks. If they both share the feeling that walking "cloggs the bases" they should both be run out of town and quickly. As most of us know the Cubs inability to get on base was the glaring weakness of our offense. Its just frustrating as heck to hear the clogging line again, Im trying so hard to forget that Baker thinks this way. How can anyone rationalize thinking that way? AARRRGG! I think I need to go throw things now.